State Briefs 9/26/08

ROCKFORD — Rockford police are investigating the attempted theft of a wood chipper from a residence.

The theft was reported about 9:40 a.m. Thursday.

Police say they got a call from a woman who told them that her wood chipper had been stolen from her backyard. Before police arrived at her home, the woman called police again saying she found her wood chipper at a car wash.

According to police reports, the woman told police that she found the wood chipper next to a Dumpster at the car wash, which is just around the corner from where she lives.

Police said the woman noticed the wood chipper was gone and that the gate from her fence had been removed, so she walked through the opening and followed the tracks from the wheels of her wood chipper, which led her to the car wash.

The woman told police that she had no idea who would try steal her wood chipper.

Rockford Register Star

Thieves get away with bottle of whiskey, nothing else

SPRINGFIELD – A bottle of whiskey was the only item taken after someone broke into Metzger’s Flooring Center.

Damage to the window that was broken to gain entry was estimated at $200.

The bottle of Crown Royal whiskey, valued at $20, was taken from an office.

State Journal-Register

Troopers injured, suspect killed in shootout

MARION – A man being served a search warrant opened fire on two state troopers Thursday and was shot to death.

At 7:15 a.m. Thursday, the Illinois State Police tactical response team with the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group arrived at the rural Williamson County residence of 61 year-old William A. Patrich to serve a drug search warrant issued by the Williamson County State’s Attorney’s office.

Officers were fired upon by Patrich, and they returned fire. Patrich was killed and two officers were wounded. The officers are expected to recover.

The incident is under investigation by the Illinois State Police internal investigation unit.

Marion Daily Republican

Architects selected for LLCC projects

LITCHFIELD — Architects have been selected for three of Lincoln Land Community College’s upcoming major construction projects.

The LLCC board Wednesday approved the recommendation of selection committees and chose FWAI Inc. of Springfield to design the new connecting building between Menard and Sangamon halls, and PSA Dewberry of Peoria was picked for the new Workforce Careers Center. Both choices are pending successful negotiations for fees and services.

In addition, John Shafer and Associates Inc. of Springfield will provide architectural services for a new eight-classroom facility at the Eastern Region Education Center in Taylorville.

The projects are part of a $33.8 million building program that also includes improvements to the Western Region Education Center in Jacksonville. Construction is expected to be completed within three years. The work is being done without an increase in the district tax rate.

State Journal-Register

Gun found in locker after bomb threat at school

MACHESNEY PARK — A student is in police custody after police found an unloaded, 25-caliber hand gun in a locker at Harlem High School while searching the school in response to a bomb threat Thursday afternoon.

About 3:10 p.m. Thursday, a student told his teacher he saw a bomb threat written on a bathroom wall.

School officials sealed off the restroom and Winnebago County sheriff’s deputies arrived with a bomb-sniffing dog that searched the school, but didn’t find a bomb.

The threat written on the bathroom wall was not an immediate threat and was specific to a different day, Harlem Superintendent Julie Morris said.

School officials found the gun after conducting a locker search.

The threat didn’t affect any after-school activities Thursday, Morris said, and classes at Harlem High School resumed as normal Friday. The bomb threat is under investigation. Police have not released the identity of the student in custody.